If all you want is HF RX, then why not get a reasonable portable set, use a short wire & then online SDR's too? I use my HF Tcvr on RX & it is good, but those filters are only of use on the amateur bands, not all of HF. If I wanted a good HF RX now, I would go the SDR route. A lot of serious SWL's now use portables, look on the BDXC site at what it's listeners are using. Of the two Tcvr's you list, the Alinco has the advantage of SDR, even if it's not full SDR, it's an extra option open to you. The Icom will probably hold it's price better.

SDR/Software is as flexible as the coders but requires a PC and is a little intangible

Hardware is defined by base design quality and it hands on.

Both have a return for money measured in your own units. I'm not talking $ or £. If you buy receiver hardware then you know you are paying $500. If you buy SDR then a cheap dongle will cost you $20 but a fully fledge SDR receiver will cost you $400+.

A factor to consider is Standalone performance. A DX-R8/others or an HF-150 (no longer available) will quite happily run and be able controlled from your car, bed side table, wherever. With SDR you will be more limited UNLESS you go for something like the CommRadio CR-1. This is a hardware/SDR software receiver that actually links/unites the old traditional hardware only setup and the pure SDR software only. This gives the traditional only hands on and PC control and the pure SDR control/operability.